Advice on first purchase

[Luca]

Hi everybody and thanks for adding me.
My name is Luca I am in love with the Z3 since it came out but never had one, never owned a car for that matter but this year I am turning 50 and would like to buy a Z3, hopefully with your help, to celebrate.

I am currently based in Berlin, Germany and this is where I am searching for a Z3.

I have briefly tested a 1.8 and a 2.0 and, to my untrained eyes, the difference as far as the engine is noticeable.
Today I will hopefully try a 2.8 and then I should be able to narrow down my search as far as engine.

As of today I would have selected the following:

1.9 (118 cv) 2001 130K sport edition with hard top 1 owner
2.8 (193 cv) 1999 230K 2 owners
3.0 (231 cv) 2000 230K

All have service records, prices vary from 9K to 13K negotiable I assume.
I have seen quite a lot of Z3 with high mileage, my question is : is a 2.8/3.0 Z3 with 230K (given that it has been properly maintained) still worth buying or is it at the end of the road, just getting ready for some costly repairs?

Also what is this weird interior/steering wheel which has the seats of the Individual Dakar but the console is not the right one, nor are the side panels which should be yellow as well, I think, and also I never saw that kind of steering wheel? Is it original or an aftermarket addition? The seats seem right.
Thanks for your help.

 

[Shelly]

 

[Grumps]

Welcome onboard.
Wow the prices over there are eye watering compared to here. I paid £2600 (3000€) for my 2.8 done 89k 7 years ago.

My advice would be go for the biggest engine your budget allows. You don't have to use it but you've got it, if you don't have it you can't use it.

 

[Luca]

Welcome onboard.
Wow the prices over there are eye watering compared to here. I paid £2600 (3000€) for my 2.8 done 89k 7 years ago.

My advice would be go for the biggest engine your budget allows. You don't have to use it but you've got it, if you don't have it you can't use it.

Thank you, I know I was looking also on eBay US and there are, right now a bunch of 3.2 with low miles for a fraction of the price of a super used one here.
What about the 230.000 km? Not an issue on a 2.8/3.0 engine?
Maintenance costs are comparable with a 130K 1.9?

 

[Eddie Zedder]

Hi Luca, if you can get the last seven digits of the VIN and put them in here it will give you the spec of the car as it left the factory. The steering wheel in the picture is an m sport wheel, an optional extra from factory.

www.mdecoder.com

 

[Stevo7682]

Hi and welcome from me in Scotland .

The M sport wheel is the same as my Dakar individual ( bar the yellow bits which someone has done aftermarket) the full black walk nappa seats with the lemon piping are also same as mine .

But like said above with the last 7 of the vin number you can check the cars factory spec should show those seats etc on there if fitted from new .

Stephen.

 

[Luca]

Thank you everybody!
Stevo, which aftermarket yellow bits are you referring to? In my pics?

Ok, so I think I am gonna target the yellow 1999 2.8 in the pic above.
Because the car is far away from me, before I schedule an appointment I need to make sure that it is worth the trip so I will request the vendor for some additional pics:

- service record (partial done at BMW)
- front seat and steering wheel
- engine?
- what else?
- is it possible to verify the trunk floor condition from a picture?
Please give me some suggestions for what kind of details I should ask for.
On another forum so far I got the following list of things to check once i get the service papers:

valve cover gaskets and vano seals
- soft top
- any work on suspensions
- routine maintenance every 10K?


Thanks

 

[Stevo7682]

just the yellow bits on the steering wheel should be black somewhere along the line they have been re coloured looks fine with the yellow bits in my opinion.

Also if it is a proper Individual model ( which appears to be by the seats )
On the inner wing it will have a plate on both sides one is the vin plate as fitted to all z3 but on the opposite side you should have an Individual model one similar to this one on mine

Stephen.

 

[Mint]

Hi @Luca, to the forum from me too in Staffordshire, UK. Good luck in your search

 

[Slam]

Hi and welcome from London

 

[Luca]

Also will t

View attachment 140215 View attachment 140217just the yellow bits on the steering wheel should be black somewhere along the line they have been re coloured looks fine with the yellow bits in my opinion.

Also if it is a proper Individual model ( which appears to be by the seats )
On the inner wing it will have a plate on both sides one is the vin plate as fitted to all z3 but on the opposite side you should have an Individual model one similar to this one on mine View attachment 140219
Stephen

Thanks Stephen got the pics from seller today, the individual tag is there!!

 

[Luca]

Another question for the community, in your opinion is it worth spending 2K more for a 3.0 compared to a 2.8?
Engine and Performances of the 3.0 are so much better than the 2.8?

2.8 1999 Dakar II individual
Vs
3.0 sport edition 2002

Same mileage and conditions

 

[mrscalex]

Hello Luca. Things are very different in the UK. Z3s are plentiful, cheap in comparison and generally speaking it's not necessary to buy higher mileage cars (we'll say 110k miles or more) unless you are on a limited budget. Nothing wrong with a limited budget and you could still get a cracking car. And nothing wrong with high mileage cars if they've been maintained properly.

The point is generally speaking if you have a sensible budget, in the UK you'll get a sub 110k mile car for maybe 2/3rds of what you'll pay for a higher mileage car in mainland Europe. So it's a little difficult for those of us in the UK (the majority of the forum) to give a properly informed view.

In the UK you can typically buy a manual 3.0 Sport with 110k miles or less for around £5-6k currently. And a non-Sport/auto 3.0 for considerably less.

I am biased as my favourite engines are the M54 2.2 and 3.0. But if you can get a 3.0 that's my own engine preference.

 

[Luca]

Thanks, same thing in the US! Unfortunately U.K. cars have the steering wheel on the wrong side
Here you can find a low mileage 3.0 but over 16K.
Being my first car and having a bunch of motorcycles and scooters which I already not use enough I did not want to spend much.
Just curious why would you prefer the 2.2 to the 2.8?

 

[mrscalex]

Thanks, same thing in the US! Unfortunately U.K. cars have the steering wheel on the wrong side
Here you can find a low mileage 3.0 but over 16K.
Being my first car and having a bunch of motorcycles and scooters which I already not use enough I did not want to spend much.
Just curious why would you prefer the 2.2 to the 2.8?

I prefer the M54 engines to the M52 engines. Just because they are the more up to date. Same as I prefer facelift to pre-facelift cars.

But that’s just my own preference.

 

[Luca]

I prefer the M54 engines to the M52 engines. Just because they are the more up to date. Same as I prefer facelift to pre-facelift cars.

But that’s just my own preference.

Thanks.

 

[Ianmc]

I personally prefer pre facelift cars. Each to their own.

 

[Sean d]

I also prefer prefacelift and love my 2.8, great engines and bullit proof, doesnt the M54 suffer from oil usage where as the m52 doesnt

 

[mrscalex]

I also prefer prefacelift and love my 2.8, great engines and bullit proof, doesnt the M54 suffer from oil usage where as the m52 doesnt

Correct some do chew oil. And the DISA can wear badly and in extreme cases self-destruct into the engine. But acceptable risks for me to have the later version with more modern trim in a car 2-3 years younger. Just a case of personal taste. They are all great cars.